Sampdoria frustrated over Eto'o move saying: "We don't know who is in charge at Everton"

Sampdoria have not given up hope of signing Samuel Eto'o but negotiations with Everton are proving more complicated than the Italian club first expected.

Eto'o is reported to have agreed an 18-month contract with the Serie A side and to be willing to reduce his wages by 40 per cent in order to return to Italy, but the 33-year-old has yet to reach an agreement to leave Goodison Park.

Samp had hoped to complete Eto'o's transfer earlier this month but now face competition after the New York Cosmos joined the race to sign the Cameroon forward, who is contracted at Everton until June 2016.

"I haven't been working in football for long and can say this is a strange working environment," Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero told Sky Italia. "People say one thing and then do another.

"We went to London and then there was a turn of events because nobody can figure out who is in charge at Everton.

"But we are getting to a breakthrough. Eto'o is very eager to come and play at Sampdoria.

"We are down to the last details. What are the chances of the move being completed? Let's be cautious and say 50 per cent."